As from 19 March 2018 the AAC law started, which means that every health board in Scotland must  provide AAC equipment and support to children and adults who require AAC to communicate.

There was a lot of work put into making AAC the law for many years, from speech therapists, people who use AAC, lawyers, people from different organizations and people from the Scottish Parliament to make this law happen. Also, as I am a AAC user, I was very involved in making AAC the law myself.

For many years I have been a part of a few AAC steering groups, spoke at a few conferences, met people from Scottish Parliament and a lot more. It was really important to me to be really involved in making this law happen, because I know how difficult having no voice and not be able to talk is. Although, I am one of lucky ones who got a Communication device and support no problem! But I know that there are people out there who had to fight for their Communication devices or AAC support and that’s not right at all. No one should have to fight for their own voice, but this new law should make things better for those who had to fight before.

Some people who are reading this may think oh ok no big deal!  But this law is a big deal for so many people in Scotland because AAC opens up a new world for so many people who can’t talk themselves.

A very good example of how AAC changes people’s lives for the better is Steven Hawking. Steven had MND from a very young age and due to having MND lost his voice and therefore he used a Communication device to communicate. And without AAC Steven wouldn’t have done half of the things that he did in his life. People see Steven as the greatest scientist ever but for someone like myself who uses AAC, Steve was someone who I looked up to and think well, he was disabled and used AAC like me and he did a lot of amazing things in his life, so there’s nothing stopping anyone from doing anything. So having this law in Scotland is really important to lots of people.

I have been using Communication devices from a young age, so if I needed a Communication device the education board always funded my Communication device without problems. But it was a big worry for me once I left school that I wouldn’t get any funding for any Communication devices in the future, but like I said before I am one of these lucky people who got funding and support from a speech therapist to get a new Communication device. But it always worries me that someday I won’t get any help or funding for any future Communication devices. But now, with this law in place I feel    like that I don’t need to worry any more that will I get funding.

Another part of the AAC law is the time factor and what I mean by that is, if someone loses their voice, they should get help from a speech therapist and any equipment that they need to communicate right away (like the next day) because no one must go for a long period of time without being able to speak, no way at all.

Also, making awareness of AAC is a big part of the law. Making awareness of AAC is really important in the new law too. Quite a lot of people out there don’t know what is AAC? Or what is a Communication device? Or how to talk to someone who uses a Communication device? And it is really a shame that a lot of people don’t know anything about AAC, because communication is the key to life! As I am someone who uses a Communication device I do get a lot of people who ask me what is that, meaning my Communication device, or people don’t know how to talk to me because I  use a Communication device, and that’s not right because everyone should feel comfortable to talk anyone that they want, so making awareness of AAC is really important to have in the new AAC law.

I hope having this new law will make Scotland a better place for people who use AAC because no one should have to fight for their own voice and everyone has the right to speak and to be heard.

To get more info about the AAC law

At Bobath we have been running a group called Teen Academy for many years now for one week in the summer holidays.  Teen Academy is for young people between 14-18 with cerebral palsy to come and learn and build up new skills like cooking or make-up or DJing and many more. Teen Academy has made a big difference to people’s life.

One of the girls who took part in last year’s Teen Academy, Abigail, contacted us to see if we could have a Teen Academy  reunion for everyone to come together to share their experiences of Teen Academy or just catch up with friends they made at Teen Academy.

So we are hosting a Teen Academy reunion on 11 April 2018 here at Bobath Scotland, 10 High Craighall Road, Glasgow G4 9UD between 12-2.

We are inviting everyone who took part in a past Teen Academy to come to catch up with friends and look back on people’s time at Teen Academy. And also we would like to invite any future Teen Academy attendees who are 14, or will be 14 before August, to come and get some information on Teen Academy .

If you are interested in coming along on the day please contact Jill at jill.clark@bobath.scot by 4 April or call the centre on 0141 352 5000. 

We look forward seeing you there.

Get on your bike

New blogger Bernie Hunter gives us an insight into what it is like to cycle with Free Wheel North

Free Wheel North is a cycling charity that aims to get people of all ages and abilities to get cycling as much as they can. The charity welcomes people who have never got the opportunity to cycle before, this may be because they think that all bikes have two wheels and are nervous to learn to ride a bike in case they have a accident. This is not an issue at Free Wheel North as they have a wide range of different style of bikes – bikes with three or four wheels are available which are suitable for people with a disability.

 

The organisation is based in Glasgow Green, they have a cycle track beside the play park and the track is especially for people who are cycling with Free Wheel North. People are only allowed on the track using their own bikes after the charity closes so this means that they are not too many bikes on the track at the same time. It is open on weekdays 10am – 5pm, closed Saturdays and open Sundays 12 – 5pm. Outwith the opening times, Free Wheel North is open all year round, even throughout the winter months but closes at the earlier time of 3pm as it gets dark in the afternoons. People are welcome anytime without booking before coming but if there is a group coming, it is better to get in touch with the organisers to let them know in advance.

 

There is a charge £1 to use any of the bikes that are available and cycle on the track for a limited time, if it is busy. They are a selection of adapted bikes for people who have additional needs, the bikes are fitted with wider pedals with straps to give more support and wider saddles with straps. This makes people feel more secure and they can ride the bike without any concerns. Most of these are trikes so they have very good balance, and bikes are available for people who are in a wheelchair who are not able to use their legs, to ride a bike by themselves. These bikes are adapted so that people have the option of transferring into a seat which is attached to a bike and the support workers, can ride the bike for them.

 

This is an amazing activity to do and no one has to ever miss out on cycling, no matter what their needs are. Free Wheel North is a fantastic charity, the staff members are so helpful and they will do their best to get the bike that suits people best, it really is a great opportunity to get cycling!

Find out more at: http://www.freewheelnorth.org.uk/

Join Jill: Raising awareness and why it matters

Learn about some of Jill’s experiences of getting involved to change things for the better for people with disabilities. 

What could you to do help speak up for people with disabilities?

I feel that raising awareness of disabilities is important thing to do when you are disabled yourself, it helps people understand you better. 

I love raising awareness of different things such as AAC (Augmentative and Alternative Communication), changing places toilets, cerebral palsy and anything else about being disabled.

With raising awareness of AAC I have a lot of stuff to make awareness of AAC. I have done a lot of talks like at Scottish parliament about AAC, about my experiences of AAC, how to communicate with someone which AAC and just how important AAC is.  As pair of raising awareness of AAC I am very involved in making AAC the key by being in a few steering groups to get my views across.

 I did some of campaigning for changing places toilets in Glasgow because there wasn’t enough changing places toilet in Glasgow. I had a   petition around to get more changing places toilet in Glasgow. The campaign was successful and now there is a lot more changing places in Glasgow.  I was involved in a group who  made sure that queen street  train station has the Right disabled access after it has been done up.

I am a part of  a group called tag (the advisory group)  The Advisory Group has been going since 1996. It was originally set up by KEY Community Supports to enable people with learning disabilities to have a stronger voice in the services they use and in their local communities. The Advisory Group has been going since 1996. It was originally set up by KEY Community Supports to enable people with learning disabilities to have a stronger voice in the services they use and in their local communities. I  am a part of Glasgow west tag and national tag too.

 In my job I do a lot of blogs about myself and experiences of life with a disability.

 

I do all of these things  to  raise awareness of   disabled people to say if  somebody who is disabled that doesn’t mean they are stupid and can’t live their life as normal. I know from my personal experiences that sadly there is a lot of people sees people like myself and think they hear disabled aww, that’s a shame they don’t know any better but that’s where raising awareness comes in.  By  raising awareness of something it is really helping  people to understand.

Doing speeches and writing blogs I know that I go on about myself and it may seem like I am a bit of show off but that isn’t the case at all.  I do it because I want to try and make people to understand me better as disabled person.

I like the saying “don’t judge someone by looking” but everybody does. It is hard not to.  But once you know the story of that person you understand and accept them more.  

Coming back to  about changing places toilets, people and places wouldn’t know about the toilets and how important a disabled toilet is for a disabled person without people like myself making awareness of these toilets

Sometimes when I am out and  out I get people  asking me what is that  meaning my talker because they  don’t know  what   a talker is but  by doing what I  have been doing like doing talking, that is helping  many people to understand  how I  communicate. 

 Let face it some people out there especially children don’t know anything about disability because they don’t know anyone who is disabled but if  schools teaches pupils what disability is then if these  pupils meet a disabled  person  later on in life we  will have better understanding of that person with a disability.  A few months back I did a talk in the high school about my AAC device and how you should communicate with someone used AAC.  I think it is very good that schools are doing that.

Having a disability is very hard but you need to overcome it.  For me, by raising awareness  of disability that is me overcome  my disability and saying look I am disabled but I can  live my life as normal as I can.

What could you to do help speak up for people with disabilities?

Email me today jill.clark@bobath.scot

 

Guest Blog: Meet Michael, from ERDA

In this week’s blog we meet Michael McEwan, Chair of East Renewfewshire Disability Action and find out what motivates him.

Hi, my name is Michael McEwan from Barrhead. I’m 34 and have cerebral palsy which affects me on my right side.

When I was at primary school I used to walk with a walking frame, l had to learn how to walk and got physiotherapy.  I went to two disability schools in Glasgow called Richmond Park and then on to Ashcraig Secondary. 

Fast forward to today , I advocate for people with a disability and also raise awareness of disability issues. I’m a Freelance Writer and Radio Presenter, also I am the chairman of my local disability group called East Renfrewshire Disability Action (ERDA). We meet on the last Monday of every month to talk about specific issues in our region. 

I love everything that I do to raise awareness of issues, so I have a disability but that’s no big issue, we are all the same at the end of the day.  

I have recently started work for a organisation called Limelight Music , a Scottish equalities professional music training and production company , mainly for those over the age of 25. They are delivering high quality inclusive music projects across Scotland , and also in Europe. 

As well as my media work , it is always about raising awareness so that is why I’m chairman for ERDA , we are a campaigning , inclusion , information, awareness and support group.

ERDA launched back in March 2011, it is important there is local disability organisation to raise the issues and concerns of disabled people at a local and national level.

Our members are both disabled and able bodied for more information on our work or if you like to be a member please have a look at the website at www.erda.org.uk.